Machine for stripping tobacco leaves



Oct. 6,' 1931. F. w. WEHMANN ET AL 1,825,376

MACHINE FOR STRIPPING TOBACCO LEAVES Filed April 9, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet1 F- W W Ivnann o k. Dab/3%ram /-ve-7-mu Oct. 6, 1931.-

F. w. WEHMANN ET AL 1,326,376

MACHINE FDR STRIPPING TOBACCO LEAVES Filed April 9. 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet2 Oct'. 6, 1931. F. w. WEHMANN ET AL ,8 ,3

MACHINE FOR STRIPPING TOBACCO LEAVES Filed April 9, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet3 .Wahhiann IN VeNTa/ZS Oct. 6, 1931. F. w. WEHMANN ET AL 1,826,376

MACHINE FOR STRIPPING TOBACCO LEAVES Filed April 9, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet4 Oct. 6, 1931. 1 F. W. WEHMANN ET AL 1,826,376

MACHINE FOR STRIPPING TOBACCO LEAVES Filed April 9, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet5 J7 Wehmomr) 5 1?- DMA mm Patented Oct. 6; 1931 FRIEDRICH WILHELM.wnHMANit, or srocKHoLM.

I OF ALSTEN, SWEDENJASSIGNORS TO AKTIEBOLAGET FOliMATOR, OF STOCKHOLM,

. SWEDEN, A CORPORATION OFSWEDEN MACHINE FOR STRIPPIN G TOBACCO LEAVESApplication filed Ap ri'lfi, 1928, Serial No.

The present invention'refers to machines for the stripping of tobaccoleaves of the type provided with a gripper or the like by means of whichthe stem of the leaves is gripped at some distance from the point of theleaf, whereupon the gripper and the leaf are given a suitable movementin relation to each other; This stripping is generally calledialf-stripping, However, in order to enable whole stripping of wrappers,binders and the like,'there is provided a shearing device in themachine, which is to be described more. fully hereinbelow, andwhich'shearing device makes it possible to divide the leaves (the book)into two halves, the same as in machines where the stem is cut out inits entirety (whole-stripping). Thus the present machine, which isprimarily intended for the stripping of filler tobacco, for whichpurpose no machine has been previously devised, may also replacemachines for whole-stripping,

' the machine thus becoming universal.

The invention is illustrated in the acco1npanying drawings. Fig. 1 showsthe machine in starting position viewed from the right hand side, theleft treadle having been omitted. Fig.2 showsthe machine viewed from thelefthand side, the gripper moving downwards. Fig. 3 shows the machine instarting position viewed from the front. Fig.

4'shows a leaf entirely stripped by cutting out the stem. Fig; 5 shows aleaf halfstripped by tearing. Fig. 6 shows how the stem is torn from theleaf in the process of stripping. Fig. 7 shows the gripper and adjacentparts viewed from the front in the starting position of the machine whenthe gripper is open. Fig. 8 shows the gripper and adjacent parts viewedfrom the front, the gripper being closed and theother parts assumingcorresponding positions. Fig. 9 shows a tobaccov leaf to an enlargedscale and threaded onto the gripper the shanks of which have penetratedthe leaf and are located one on each side of the stem. Fig. 10 shows thetobacco leaf after the gripper has been closed and after aknifeconnected with the shank of the gripper has severed the stem. Fig. 11

illustrates how the stem is picked out of the gripper in the lower limitposition of the lat- 268,685, and in Germany April 29, 1927.

AND ERNST RUBEN IDAHLSTRQM,

ter. F ig; 12 illustrates how the stem is pre- Vented from being carriedwith the gripper in the upward movement of the latter into the startingposition. Fig. 13 shows in. vertical section and inelevation audevicefor cleaning the stripped stem from leaf portions sticking thereto. Fig.14 shows the same device in horizontal sectionand in plan view. Fig. l5shows a detail. i

1 designates the holder of the gripper, from which holder extend threeshanks (Figs. 6-10) 2, 4, 5, shank 2 being situated on the one side-ofthe stem and shanks4 and 5 on the other side thereof when the leaf isthreaded on the gripper. The shanks 2 and 4 as well as the knife 3serving to'sever the stem trasversely are rigidly connected with theholder 1, whereas theshank 5 is secured on a holder 6 which is rotatablyarranged about the shaft 7 rigidly connected with the holder-1, that isto say, the shank 5 is turnable in relation to the shanks 2 and 4. i

The tobacco leaf 18 (the point of'which is directed inwardly) is i moveddown over (threaded on) the gripper by the operator when'the gripperassumes the position shown in Figs. 1, 3, 7 and '9, thegripper beingopen in this position. The machine is then at rest. In this openposition, the gripper is held against the action of the spring 17 anarm8 r gidlyconnected with the holder 6 engag ing underneath a bolt 9 whichis adjustably treadle 14 is actuated, the bolt 9 then releast ing thearm 8 so that the gripper will. be

closed, the shank 5 moving toward the shank 2 (Figs. 8 and 10) throughthe influence of the spring 17 and the stem 20 being severed by theknife 3 at the edge of the shank 5 reached the position shown in Fig. 8.When the gripper 1s open, the shanks and 5 (Figs.

6 and 9) together form one shank of the same width as that of shank 2,so that the leaf is cut up to the same extent on both sides of the stemwhen being threaded over the gripper. It is only the portion of the stemlocated right opposite the shank 5 which is gripped by the gripper whenthe latter is closed (Fig. 10), as w l be readily understood from theabove, in that the portion of the stem which has been cut off by theshank i and the corresponding sort of the shank 2 is left free. The lastnientioned cutting operation gives an indication for th further tearingoiii' of the stem, so that the leaf will not break outwardly toward thesides.

On continued depressing of the treadle 14- the machine is started aswill be understood from the description hereinbelow. .Vhen the arm 16(Figs. 1 and 3) movahly connected with the treadle l l is moveddownwards, a coupling rod 2". which is vertically arranged and pivotallconnected its lower end to the arm 16, is moved vertically downwards,until the upper part of the coupling rod 23 ceases to bear on an arm 2-4which is attached to the shaft 25 for the booking drum 36 mounted in therame of the machine. The coupling rod 23 is provided with a strapshapedmember 119 embracing the hub of the coupling disk 27 which is formed asa tric- 1 is loosely mounted on the shaft tion disk anu 28, saidcoupling disk 27 cooperating with the coupling disk 29 n ale in t isform of a friction disk and secured on the same shaft the coupling disk27. Two screw bolts 11'? threaded one into each of the lateral mem bersof the strap 119 extend with their inner unthreaded ends into guidepieces 118 enga ing into a circumferenti ally extendiiui; groove in thehub of the coupl disk 27.

A support 125 of the machine frame is provided with a pin 126 engaging avertical slot 127 in the coupling rod Thus the downward movement ot thetreadle ceases when the upper edge of th slot hits the pin 1%. As soonas the tread e as reached lower 1 limit )osition the macl he has beenstarted so that the book v drum moves one revolution. Thus the treadlemay be released immediately after it has reached the lower limitposition.

In the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the

disk 27 is kept out of engagement with the disk 29 against the action ofthe coupling disk 29 securedon the driving shaft 28 (which is driven bymeans of a suitable motor) The movement is transmitted onto anintermediate shaft 30 1) mounted in the frame through the toothed wheel31 attached to the disk 27 and the toothed wheel 82 on. the shaft and,further, through the sprocket wheel 33, the chain 3% and the sprocketwheel 35 to the shaft 25 of the drum. v The endless band 19 running overthe drum 36, which is secured on the shaft 25, for which band there isprovided a break roller 37 near and behind the starting position of thegripper, will then obtain a movement in the direction ofthe arrow 116(Fi 1), that is the part of the band extending rearwards (inwardly) fromthe upper side of the break roller to the drum moves rear-wards(inwardly). Together with the hand 19 an endless band 38 serves as acarryin member for the tobacco leaf, said band 38 extending abouttherollers 89 and 410. T he roller 39 is mounted in two arms a l (Fig. 1)attached to the shaft 12 of the other roller A further arm is secured onthis shaft, said arm cooperating with a cam dis -14 tached to the shaft25, so that the roller 39 and the hand 38 are movedalternately up anddown. The band receives its movement about its break rollers by theroller lO (Fig. and, in lowered position, also the band bearing on theband 19 and a break roller 15 for the latter.

Immediately after the machine has'been started, that is to say, afterthe coupling has been engaged, the roller 39 and the band 38 are movedfrom the raised"position shown with full lines -1 Fig. 1, down towardthe band 19 (Fig. 1, the position shown by chaindottcd lines. and Fig.6), the front portion (point) of the tobacco leaf 18 which has beenresting'on the band 19, beim then caught by the bands 19 and 38, so thatthe leaf is brought into n'iovement toward the drum 36, that is to intothe booking device.

The movement of the gripper for tearing the stem out of the leaf isobtained in the ollowing manner: v t, The holder 1 of the gripper (Figs.1, 6-8) is secured on the shaft 4-6 which is rotatably mounted in thearms 47 and Attached to the arm 41-6 is an arm 49 bearing with anabutment 50 (Fig. 2 against an abuti'nent 51 on the arm -18 under theactionof the spring; 52, the gripper thus obtaining: the uprightposition shown in 1, 3, 7 and 8. The arms 4:7 and 48 are secured on theshaft 52 (F igs. 1-3) which is movably mountedin the two lateral members53-and 54- ofthe frame. The arm 48 is movably connected with thearm 56th-rough'a link 55, said arm 56 being rotatably mounted in the framemember 54. A roller 57 mounted in the-arm '56 engages a slot in acamdisk (Fig. which is secured onthe shaft 25. When the machine isstarted, the gripper obtains a movement corresponding to theshape of theslot in the cam disk 58, said movement being so adapted that the gripperwill, while the feeding of the'leaf 18 into the machine commences, belowered, the gripper entraining the stem Fig. 2) and leaving thepassagefor the leaf free. The novement of the gripper thereafter is such inrelation to the feeding movement of the V bands that the place ofstripping 59 (Fig. 6) or the point where the stein20 leaves the leaf 18,will always be situated adjacent to the band 19 opposite the front sideof the roller 87, the proximity thereof.

When the stem has been torn out in its entirety and the gripperapproaches its lower position of reversal, a roller 59' on the arm.

19 (Figs. 2, 3, 11 and 12) moves against the fixed guide bar in theframe, so that the gripper is turned as 'shownin Fig. 11, the spring 52being strained thereby.- The gripper thenmoves with the-shanks 2 and 5one on each side of a picker 61 formedas a lamina or the like, saidpicker having a scraping action on the inner side of thegripper and thuspicking OK the stem 20, whereupon the latter falls down along a groove128 into a box (not shown). In order to prevent the its point gripperfrom catching the stem on in case the stem 20 shouldhappen to stick tothe point of the picker ,61 (Fig. 12), the picker is pivotally mountedon an arm 62 secured inv the frame. Normally, the picker abuts againstan abutment 63 on. this aim through the influence of a spring 61 butwhen the gripper turns and commences to move upwards, the picker will,on account of the pressure ofthe. shanks on the same, turn forwardsabout its pivot, whereby the point thereof is brought further downthanrthe point of the gripper, as shown 1111 ig. '12, so that the latteris not then brought into 'contact'with the stemto grip the same anew.

lVhile the stem 'is'being torn out of the tobacco leaf, the lattercontinues to move with the band 19 'aboutthe booking drum 36 so far thatthe leaf 'is' brought with its front portion onto ig. 1), the machinebeing then automatically caused to stop if the pressure on the treadleliqhas ceased, thecoupling rod 23 being raised through the spring 66 andthe arm 16 into the positionaccording to Fig 1, so that the arm 24 onthe drain shaft- 25 will again displac'ethe rod23 in the longitudinaldirection of the driving shaft against theinfluence' of the spring 26',when or, at any'rate, in

the revolution has been completed, the fric. tion' coupling on thedriving shaft 28 being thus disengaged. The gripper has now beenreturned into its upper position, whereas the roller'39 and the band 38have been raised through the influence of the cam disk 14 into theposition shown in full lines in Fig. 1. Immediately before the gripperreaches the said upper'position, the arm 8 on the holder 6 hits the bolt9 on the bell crank lever 10, whereby the gripper is opened and thespring 17 is strained (Figs. 1 and 9). in order to remove leaf portionsfrom the stem which may be carried with the latter when the leaves arevery torn, a cleaning device is provided according to the invention.This device consists of two cutter wheels 67 and 68 provided with teeth69 (Figs. 13and 1e). The cutter teeth 69 are of such a shape that around opening 70 (Fig. 14) will be produced between two teeth, one oneach wheel;

when these teeth are adjacent to each other. The stem is permitted topass through this opening while being still held by the gripper. Theinner wheel 67 is attached to the shaft 71(Fig.- 1) which is rotatably'mounted in the frame members 53 and'54 and is drivenfrom the shaft 28 bymeans of the sprocket wheel 72fsecured on the friction disk chain 78,and the sprocket wheel '74 attached to the shaft 71. The outer or frontwheel 68 (Fig. 14) is mounted on two studs 7 5 "inserted one in eachshank of'a fork 6 formingthe outer end of an arm 77 (Figs. 13)

which' is secured on a shaft 78 rotatably mounted in the frame brace 79.The arm 77 receives an oscillatory swinging mot-ion from the cam disk 80attached to the drum shaft 25, the said camdisk cooperating with a fork82 provided with a roller 81, said fork being secured on a rod 88pivotallyconnected with the arm 84 attached to. the shaft 78; The roller81 bears on the cam disk 80 through the influence of the spring 85 (F.2). When the machine is at rest, the arm 77 with the outer wheel 68assumes the position shown in Fig. 1. After the machine has beenstarted, the wheel 68 begins to approach the wheel 69, so that the twowheels 68 and 69 will embrace the stem altogether, immediately above thepoint of the gripper, when the latter has been sufficiently lowered. Inorder toguide the stem more readily in between the wheels, there aresecured two conical disks 86 on the hub of theouter wheel 68, saidconical disks 86 forming a deep groove together with the wheel forthepurpose of catching the stem. On the shaft 71 for the inner wheelrotating in a clockwise direction is attached a toothed wheel 87, and onthe hub of thewheel 68 a corresponding toothed wheel 88 These toothedwheels mesh into each other when the wheel. 68 is approached to thewheel 6?,whereby wheel 68 1's caused to rotate in 'a counter-clockwisedirection.

27, the V Now, the teeth of both cutter wheels work against the stem ina direction opposed to that of the movement of the stem, the cutterwheels thus together effecting a thorough removal of leaf portionssticking to the stem.

The cleaning is continued until the whole stem has passed between thewheels, the arm 77 being then returned into starting position throughthe influence of the cam disk 80,1eaving the assage free for the upwardmovement of the gripper.

hen the machine is started for another cycle of operations by actuatingthe treadle, the gripper is firs c os d, the stem of. another tobaccoleaf plz :ed in po ition being then severed, whereupon. the g (booking)device is rendered operative. he leaf which was stripped before moves,its point first, downwards along the le it side of the drum 36 (Fig. 1)and meets the new leaf about at 89, which new leaf is now stripped. Thisnew leaf will then be h ought imm diately outside the iirst leaf andalso in such a position relatively to th latter that the points at whichthe strippi cnnnences coincide. In this manner the leaves are broughtone after the other into the booking device so that they will be lyingon top of each other betwee the band 19 and the drum 36 like the leavesof a book, as shown at 90 in Figs. 1 and 2.

The band 19 moves, when followed from the upper side of the break roller3'7 and in the direction of the arrow 116 (Fig. 1), first between tnerollers -fl() and 4:5 and over the roller 91, then around thecircrunference of the drum 36 and about the roller 92 situated on thefront side (the left hand side, Fig. 1) of the drum, from which roller92 the band runs in an upward direction and over the rollers 03 and 9-3"above the drum, and, further, downwards on the right hand side and overt re roller 95 and underneath the tension roller 96 and, finally, overthe. roller 97 back to the roller 37, tie band being extended about theleft hand side of the latter roller (F f 1) The rollers 37, 45, 91, 95and 9? are mounted on shafts, both ends of which are attached to thelateral members 53 and of the machine frame. The roller 94: is mounted.on the shaft and the roller 92 on the shaft 98 which att ched to thefree ends of two arms 99 extending from the 100 of the roller 93, thelatter shaft beir rotatably mounted in the frame meml: rs and Thetension roller serving to hold i re band 19 taut in so far that space Yd beta. ecu the band and the drum "or a -l provirh suitable number ofleaves is mounted on the shaft 101 secured on two arms 102 which are r...--tably mounted on the shaft 103 of the roller The tension of the bandis effected by the springs 10 1 which are adiustably attached to thecross brace 105.

The band 19 as well as the band 38 may be replaced by two or more bandsrunning beside each other.

When a suitable number of leaves have been collected (booked) betweenthe band 19 and the drum 36, they are fetched out in such a manner thatthe arms 99 together with the roller 92 are raised from their lowernormal position, in which a spring 129 inserted between an arm 130 onthe shaft 100 and the frame tends to keep them toward the positionindicated with chain-dotted lines in Fig. 1, so that the bunch of leavesmay be grasped by the hand when it moves past the opening providedthrough the raising operation. This raising is effected by the handleformed on the arm 106 (Fig. 3) being moved toward the left (Fig. 1) themotion being then transferred to the arms 99 through the pull rod 107and the arm 108 attached to the free end of the shaft 100.

This method of collecting (booking) or removing of the leaves out of themachine is previously known per so, as is the arrangement for tensioningthe band (or hands) 19.

When the book has been removed, it is to be cut up so that two equalhalves are obtained, if the leaves are to serve as wrappers or asbinders of certain kinds. Again, if binders intended for binder piecesare considered, the book is to be cut up into pieces of a suitable size.Filler tobacco, also, is frequently required cut up. In order that thesecutting operations shall take place with the least loss of timeimmediately on removing the book, a cutting device is mounted on theleft hand side of the machine (Figs. 2 and 3), a fixed knife 109 beingattached to the outside of the frame 5 1, said knife being adapted tocooperate with another knife 110 secured on the arm 112 pivotallymounted on the stud 111.

The cutting or shearing is effected, as is readily understood (see Fig.2), by the leaf edge (the book) being arranged on the fixed knife,whereupon the treadle 113 is actuated, said treadle being pivotallymounted at the bottom on the left hand side (Fig. 3) in the machineframe, and being connected through the link 114 with the arm 115 unitedwith the arm 112.

)Vh at we claim is 1. In a machine for stripping the stem from a tobaccoleaf, the combination of a device for gripping the leaf and feeding itinto the machine, a gripper adapted to seize the stem and movablerelatively to said leaf gripping device, said gripper comprising threeshanks, the one of which is adapted to engage the leaf on the one sideof the stem, while two others are adapted to engage the leaf on theopposite side of the stem, the one of these latter two shanks beingpivotally and the other rigidly connected with the first named shank.

2. In a machine for stripping the stem from a tobacco leaf, thecombination of a device fo'r gripping the leaf and feeding it into theone of which is adapted the stem, while two the machine, a gripperadapted to seize the stem and movable relatively to said leaf grippingdevice, said gripper comprising three shanks, the one of which isadapted to engage the leaf on theone side of the stem, while two othersare adapted to engage the leaf on the opposite side ofthe stem, the oneof these latter two shanks being pivotally and the other rigidlyconnected with'the first named shank, holder for said gripper, saidholder being rotatably arranged on a support movable from an upper stemreceiving position to a lower stem means for keeping the holderyieldingly in an upright position, that is, a position, in whichthepoint of the gripper is directed upwardly, and meansfor rotating theholder with respect to the support.

3. In a machine for stripping the stem from a tobacco leaf, thecombination of a device for gripping the leaf and feeding it into themachine, a gripper adapted to seize the stem and movable relatively tosaid leaf gripping device, said gripper comprising three shanks, toengage the leaf on the one side of others are adapted to engage the leafon the opposite side of the stem, the one of these latter two shanksbeing pivotally and the other rigidly connected with the first namedshank, a spring tending to close the gripper, means for opening thegripper and looking it in the open position, and a member for releasingsaid locking means and for starting the machine.

l. in a machine for stripping the stem from a tobacco leaf, thecombination of a device for gripping the leaf and feeding 1t into themachine, a gripper, said gripper including shanks adapted togrip thestem between them and being movably connected to each other, .a springtending to close the gripper, means for opening the gripper and lockingit in open position, a member in the form of lamina arranged topenetrate between the gripper shanks when the gripper has reached itsstem delivering position.

5. In machine for stripping the stem from a tobacco leaf, "thecombinationof a device for gripping the leaf and feeding it into themachine, a gripper adapted to seize the stem and movable relatively tosaid leaf gripping device, said gripper having'two shanks adapted togrip the stem between themselves and being pivotally connected to eachother, one of saidshanks being provided with a knife'adapted to severthe stem transversally when closing thev gripper, a member for startingthe machine, and means whereby the gripper is closed, when said memberis operated.

6'. In a machine for stripping the, stem from a tobacco leaf, thecombination of a device for gripping the leaf and movingit into themachine, a gripper adapted to seize the delivering position,

stem of the leaf, means whereby-the said device and said gripper aremoved in relation to each other to cause the stem to be pulled from theleaf, and a stem cleaning device for removing the; remaining tobaccofrom the stem immediately after the stripping operation, said cleaningdevice comprising tWo cc"tlngfmembers, located on opposite sides.respectively of the path of movement of the gripper, one of said cutting.members consistingpf a cutting wheel, being movable to and from'theother cutting member. v

j", Ina machine for stripping the stem from a, tobacco-leaf, thecombination of a device forgripping the leaf and moving it into themachine, a gripperadapted to seize the stem ofthe-. lea f-,;;meanswhereby the said device and said gripper are moved in relationto eachoth'erto cause the stem to be pulled from the leaf,-and a stem cleaningdevice for removing the remaining tobacco from the stemimmediately afterthe stripping operation, said stem cleaning device consisting of twocutterwheels located on opposite sides respectively of the path ofmovement of the gripper and being movable the one to and fromthe other.I p a 8. 111 a machine for stripping the stem from a tobacco leaf,'thecombination of a device forgripping the leaf and moving it intotheymachine, a gripper adapted to seize the stem of the leaf, meanswhereby the said device and said gripper are moved in relation toeachother to cause the stem to be pulled from theleaf, and astemcleaningdevice for removing the remaining tobacco from the stem immediatelyafter the stripping operation, said stein" cleaning device consisting oftwo cutter wheels located on opposite sides respectively of the path ofvmovement ,of the gripper and being movable the one to and from theother, a driving shaft, .means whereby the one cutter whe-elis rotatedfrom said driving shaft, means for transferring the rotation of the saidcutter wheel to the other cutter wheel. i

. 9. In a machine for strippingthe 'stem from a tobacco leaf, thecombination of a device for gripping the leaf and moving it into themachine, a gripper adapted to seize the stem of the leaf, mean'swherebythe saidde-,

vice and said gripper are moved inrelation to 5 each; other to: cause:the stem "tobe pulled r1-01nu1eieamna a stem cleaning device forremovingthe remaining tobacco from the stem immediately after thestripping opera tion,-'--sa'id cleaning device comprising two cuttingmembers, located on opposite sides" respectivelyof the path of'movementof the gripper," one of said cutting members consisting of a cuttingwheel being movable to and from the other cutting member, the saidcutter wheel being mounted in a pivoted arm, a driven shaft, and meanswhereby the said 6 mega;

arm is given an oscillated movement by the rotation of said shaft.

10. In a machine for stripping the stem from tobacco leaf, thecombination of a device for gripping the leaf and moving it into themachine, a gripper adapted to seize the stem of the leaf, means wherebythe saiddevice and said gripper are moved in relation to each other tocause the stem to be pulled from the leaf, and a stem cleaning devicefor removing the remaining tobacco from the stem immediately after thestripping operation, said cleaning device comprising two cuttin gmembers, located on opposite m sides respectively of the path ofmovement of the gripper, one of said cutting membersconsisting of acutting wheel, being movable toand from the other cutting member,thecutting members being provided at their out- 201 er edges withrecesses for the passage of the stem.

11. In a device for stripping the stem from a tobacco leaf, thecombination of a gripper adapted toseize the stem, means for grippingthe leaf and moving it through the machine, said gripper being adaptedto move relatively to the leaf gripping means so as to cause thestemming, the leaf gripping means con- I sisting of two travellingbelts, which are arranged to grip the leaf therebetween, said belt linesbelonging to a booking device, a driving shaft, a coupling adaptedinengaged position to transmit the rotation of the driving shaftonto'thc shaft of the booking drum, a coupling member adapted tonormally keep the coupling in disengaged position, a second memberadapted to be actuated by the operator to cause the gripper to performits 7 stripping movement, and means whereby said coupling member Willbring the coupling into engaged position when the said second member isoperated.

12'. In a machine for stripping the stem from a tobacco leaf, thecombination of a device for gripping the leaf and moving it into themachine, a gripper adapted to seize the stem of the leaf, means wherebythe said de vice and said gripper are moved in relation to each other tocause the stem to be pulled from the leaf, said leaf gripping deviceconsisting of travelling belts belonging to abooking device, means forcutting up the to" baccoleaves in two equal. halves, said meansconsisting of a shear-like cutting device, and a treadle for closing andopening the shanks of said cutting device.

In testimony whereof We afiix our signatures.

FRIEDRICH WILHELM WI-EHMANN. ERNST RUBEN DAHLSTROM.

